Covington’s Brandon Pierce advances in U.S. Open golf qualifying

Garrett Barber of Stuart, Florida fired a 7-under par 65 to capture medalist honors in a U.S. Open local qualifier, conducted by the Louisiana Golf Association, last week at Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette.

Barber’s scorecard was blemish free with seven birdies and zero bogeys. Charlie Flynn of Alexandria, Peter Hinnant of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Brandon Pierce of Covington, Louisiana finished tied for second at 4-under-par 68.

All four players will advance to 36-hole final stage qualifying – also known as Golf’s Longest Day – with qualifiers from the Final Stage sites advancing to the 121st U.S. Open Championship on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego June 17-20.

Barber, a junior on the LSU golf team, is currently ranked 149th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. He shot 32 on the front nine and 33 on the second nine en route to the impressive 65. Barber took advantage of his length off the tee and played aggressively, making birdie on all four of the par 5’s at Oakbourne. He also birdied Nos. 1, 6 and 12.

Pierce, a touring professional who attended St. Paul’s and LSU and was the 2015 Louisiana collegiate player of the year, finished his round in incredible fashion, making birdie on six of the last eight holes to qualify.

Flynn and Hinnant are teammates at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and their home course is Oakbourne. Their local knowledge served them well.

Blake Caldwell of Ponchatoula, Joel Myrick of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Michael Smith of Lafayette finished at 3-under-par 69. Smith made a par on the first playoff hole to claim first alternate, with Caldwell settling for second alternate.

The Dick Wilson-designed Oakbourne Country Club, which is hosting the LGA’s Senior Amateur Championship this week, was in excellent condition for this qualifier and drew rave reviews from participants.

There were a total of 64 competitors at this local qualifier conducted by the LGA, in association with the USGA.  Oakbourne Country Club played to a par of 72 at 6,903 yards.

Click here to view final results.